Ditch cleaning attachment for high lift material handling equipment

ABSTRACT

A ditch cleaning attachment for a so-called high lift shovel has an arm attachable to the bucket of the high lift and extending sidewardly therefrom and mounting a scoop on its outer end. The scoop is disposed below the arm and below the level of the bottom of the bucket and is spaced sidewardly with respect thereto where it can be manipulated by moving the bucket of the high lift shovel.

United States Patent Rich et a1.

1451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] DITCH CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR HIGH LIFT MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT [72] Inventors: Andrew V. Rich, PO. Box 2; Eugene F.

Zarlengo, PO. Box 286, both of Hillsville, Pa. 16132 [22] Filed: Aug.2l,l970

[21] Appl.No.: 65,845

152 u.s.c| .j. ....214/14s 511 1111.01. ..E02i3/00 5s FieldoiSearch'. ..214/14s,131,142, 140,620,

214/146.5; 217/103, DIG. 12

' [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,440,744 4/ 1969 Smith ..2 14/ 145 X 2,470,779 5/1949 Lankovski et a1 ..2 14/ 145 708,587 9/1902 Robinson ..214/145 2,526,500 10/1950 Pilch ...214/142 X 3,019,923 2/1962 Morrison et a1 ..37/103 X Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-Webster B. Harpman 57 ABSTRACT A ditch cleaning attachment for a so-called high lift shovel has an arm attachable to the bucket of the high lift and extending sidewardly therefrom and mounting a scoop on its outer end. The scoop is disposed below the arm and below the level of the bottom of the bucket and is spaced sidewardly with respect thereto where it can be manipulated by moving the bucket of the high lift shovel.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures rmimenm 41912 3,653 524 INVENTORS ANDREW V. RICH 8| EUGENE F ZARLENGO WJM/ ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an attachment for a high lift shovel to enable it to operate in a ditch at one side and below the position of the shovel.

'2. Description of the Prior Art:

High lift shovels are well known and are some times referred to as front end loaders and wherein a tractor like mechanism is provided with arms which carry a material engaging bucket. The high lift shovel is provided with means for moving the bucket vertically and tilting it from loading to carrying and unloading positions. No prior art devices comparable with the attachment disclosed herein are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ditch cleaning attachment for high lift shovels comprises a horizontal beam having spaced arms by which one side of the beam may be engaged on the forward edge of the bucket of a high lift shovel and the arms attached to the sides thereof. A sideward extension of the beam carries a scoop disposed below the beam and thereby below the bottom of the bucket to which the beam is attached. The attachment is easily affixed to the bucket by bolts and easily removed therefrom and when affixed to the bucket of the high lift shovel the scoop may be advantageously used to clean out ditches and the like at one side of and below the position of the high lift shovel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT By referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that an .articulated high lift shovel has been illustrated in broken lines and wherein the bucket is carried on the forward end of a pair of elevating arms 11 which are pivoted to suitable brackets on the lower rear portion of the bucket 10. Tilting arms 12 on the high lift shovel are connected to the bucket 10 arms 17. One end of the beam 16 extends sidewardly beyond the bucket 10, to the left as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and is attached to the upper portion of a cylindrical scoop 19, the open forward end of which is provided with a plurality of projecting teeth 20. A secondary beam 21 is attached near the opposite end of the cylindrical scoop 19 and extends to an is joined with the other one of the spaced arms 17. A diagonally positioned brace 22 extends between the beams 16 and 21 so that any tendency of the cylindrical scoop 19 to move rearwardly as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings will be resisted by the brace 22 and the thrust carried directly on the bucket 10 of the high lift shovel.

In order that the balance of the bucket 10 and the free operation of the actuating arms 11 and 12 may be insured a counter weight 23 is positioned on the beam 16 so as to be partially located within the bucket 10 and preferably takes the form of an open box 10 in which additional weights may be positioned.

It will thus be seen that the ditch cleaning attachment for high lift shovels comprises a beam 16, the cylindrical scoop 19, its supporting structure and the counter weight 23. The rear end of the cylindrical scoop is closed. A cut away area in the upper portion of the cylindrical scoop is provided for in spaced relation to the connection of the arms 11 so that the bucket can be tilted thereby. The bucket 10 includes a relatively flat bottom portion 13 terminating in a leading edge 14 and is provided with cutaway side portions 15.

The ditch cleaning attachment consists of a horizontal beam 16 which is preferably an I beam so that the leading or forward edge 14 of the bucket 10 can be engaged in the channel defined in one side thereof. A pair of spaced arms 17 welded to the side of the beam 16 extend rearwardly therefrom along the sides 15 of the bucket and are apertured at their rearmost ends so that bolts 18 can be positioned through the apertures and engaged in apertured brackets, not shown, on the back of the bucket 10.

It will thus be seen that the beam 14 is securely held against the forward edge 14 of the bottom l3 of the bucket 10 by the visual observation of the contents.

The above described device may be quickly and easily attached to the bucket of a high lift shovel or the like and used to clean out and/or dig or redig ditches at one side of and below the location of the high lift shovel. The attachment makes possible the utilization of the full range of motions of which the high lift shovel is capable.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A ditch cleaning attachment for a high lift shovel and the like having a bucket with a forward edge and the means for manipulating the bucket, said attachment comprising a transverse beam engagable with the forward edge of said bucket, spaced right angular arms on said transverse beam engagable with the sides of said bucket and fasteners for attaching said arms thereto, one end of said transverse beam extending outwardly from one side of said bucket, a secondary beam spaced rearwardly of said transverse beam and secured to one of said arms and extending outwardly therefrom in parallel relation to said transverse beam, a scoop on said outwardly extending portions of said beams.

2. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein said transverse beam is of a configuration receiving the forward edge portion of said bucket so as to prevent vertical movement thereof with respect thereto.

3. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein the scoop is disposed below said extending portions of said beams and arranged at right angles with respect thereto.

4. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein a box for receiving a counterweight is attached to said transverse beam in the area of said bucket opposite to said scoop.

5. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein a bracing structure is disposed between said scoop and said beams. 

1. A ditch cleaning attachment for a high lift shovel and the like having a bucket with a forward edge and the means for manipulating the bucket, said attachment comprising a transverse beam engagable with the forward edge of said bucket, spaced right angular arms on said transverse beam engagable with the sides of said bucket and fasteners for attaching said arms thereto, one end of said transverse beam extending outwardly from one side of said bucket, a secondary beam spaced rearwardly of said transverse beam and secured to one of said arms and extending outwardly therefrom in parallel relation to said transverse beam, a scoop on said outwardly extending portions of said beams.
 2. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein said transverse beam is of a configuration receiving the forward edge portion of said bucket so as to prevent vertical movement thereof with respect thereto.
 3. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein the scoop is disposed below said extending portions of said beams and arranged at right angles with respect thereto.
 4. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein a box for receiving a counterweight is attached to said transverse beam in the area of said bucket opposite to said scoop.
 5. The ditch cleaning attachment of claim 1 wherein a bracing structure is disposed between said scoop and said beams. 